Across the globe, Catholic churches have emptied holy water fonts in an effort to stall the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it’s officially known. It’s got me thinking about the importance of holy water in general and the need to keep it in our homes and with us when we travel.
Turn your phone into a means for greater striving this Lent with the Magnificat Lent Companion App for iOS or Android. The price of the app is $2.99, but I’m giving away a limited number of free dowload codes. Enter by leaving a comment indicating “iOS” or “Android.” Offer ends Saturday, February 29.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” he was talking about far more than whether we own anything of material value. Undoubtedly, there is great merit in forgoing the things of this world and living in simplicity. But that’s only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Lent is the time to change our attitude.
Sometimes what you think are the dumbest things your parents ever did turn out to be the most profound and useful life lessons. Marge dedicates this episode to her dad and describes a vital life lesson she learned from him about dealing with difficult people and situations.
What are your stumbling blocks to holiness? The emphasis is on your stumbling blocks and not anyone else’s. The thing (or things) that make one person stumble may not be an obstruction to another’s holiness. What matters is what makes you stumble on your path to heaven.
Feeling like you blew Advent this year? Christmas is coming closer – fast – and you’re feeling like your Advent striving has fizzled. Don’t despair! True, we’re coming down the home stretch of Advent, but there’s much you can do to make the most of it even if you’ve hardly done anything spiritually fulfilling these past weeks. Marge describes the beautiful ancient verses known as the “O Antiphons” and explains how they can help you make the absolute most of this home stretch to Christmas.
In Ireland, exceptional hospitality isn’t as much a practiced virtue as it is a matter of course. Hospitality is part of what the Irish people are made of and I was the blessed recipient of that hospitality for eight days.